Italian Desert Roses Cookies Recipe
If you’re looking for a special occasion dessert, try this recipe by author and expert Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn for Rose Del Deserto (Desert Roses) cookies. It includes healthy options based on Paola’s improved version of the classic Mediterranean diet in her cookbook, which she calls The Mamma Mia! Diet.
ROSE DEL DESERTO (DESERT ROSES)
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 35-40 cookies
INGREDIENTS
- 130 g (⅔ cup) granulated sugar
- 120 g (4.3 oz ) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 240 g (1 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour
- 5 g (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 180 g (1 cup) chocolate chips
- 200 g (7 oz) approx., cornflakes (like Special K) or similar
Powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350 °F). Cream the butter and sugar in a medium-sized bowl with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract. Then mix the flour and the baking powder together in a small bowl. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and stir in the chocolate chips. Roll teaspoon-sized balls of dough in a bowl of cornflakes. Place the cookies, well-spaced (about 3-4 cm), on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top, just before serving.
Note: This recipe makes about 35-40 cookies. If the dough is too sticky, add one or two spoons of flour. You can substitute chocolate chips with other ingredients such as raisins, for an even healthier snack. Store in a airtight container. You can also store the baked cookies in the freezer; before serving, let them thaw at room temperature and then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
ABOUT THE COOKBOOK AUTHORS
Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn is an Italian pharmacist, researcher and food writer. Cooking, eating healthy food and staying active have always been her life-long passions. She has a cooking blog Passion and Cooking, and contributes to several international magazines. She has previously published in Italy Love is Eating, focusing on Italian culinary culture.
Paola Palestini is a biochemistry professor at the Medical School of the University Milano-Bicocca, Italy. Recently, Paola has been actively involved in the promotion of the principles of a healthy diet through conferences and in collaboration with several magazines. She is the author of seventy-six scientific articles published in international journals.
THE MAMMA MIA! DIET
Written by Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn and Paola Palestini
Published by Hatherleigh Press.
